What happens when the father of American literature and the pioneer of American cinematography meet up for a little video shoot? Silent movie magic, that's what, starring the one and only Samuel Clemens (aka Mark Twain) as himself.

Turns out Twain and Edison were pretty chummy back in the day. This particular footage — believed to be the only existing video of Twain — was filmed on the author's Connecticut estate in 1909, about a year before his death. Twain can be seen puffing away at a cigar in a dapper white suit, and taking a meal with his daughters Clara and Jean. All pretty ho-hum stuff, really; although, if the Oscars had been around at the turn of the 20th Century, Twain's mustache would have been an obvious nominee for best supporting actor.